Metro’s new Rush Plus schedule has left riders along the Blue Line, which now runs fewer peak-hour trains, feeling, well . . . blue.

The transit agency is hoping a little green might cure that by luring riders to the Yellow Line, with its stepped-up rush-hour service through Northern Virginia and the District.

Metro official Lynn Bowersox said Thursday that the people who planned Rush Plus, which began in June, had not anticipated how strongly many passengers prefer a one-train commute. The result has been a summer of crowded trains and disgruntled riders up and down the Blue Line.

Hello Yellow! is meant to show Blue Line riders that a Blue-to-Yellow transfer can cut travel time, Bowersox said. “If you’re reluctant to try something new, you might just need a little incentive to find out how well it works,” she said.

Metro is hoping a five-spot — or at least the Farecard equivalent — will be just the nudge some customers need. “Our customers are very smart,” Bowersox said. “Our hope is that once they see how they can use the Yellow Line, they’ll stick with it.”

Riders looking to cash in on Metro’s offer will have to keep an eye on the calendar because the Hello Yellow! campaign will be active only at certain stations on certain days.

Staffers will hand out Farecards — while supplies last — according to the following schedule: Tuesday, Pentagon and L’Enfant, 7:30 to 9 a.m.; Wednesday, Pentagon City and L’Enfant, 7:30 to 9 a.m.; Tuesday, Sept. 25: McPherson Square and L’Enfant, 4:30 to 6 p.m.; Thursday, Sept. 27: Farragut West and L’Enfant, 4:30 to 6 p.m.

Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.

To pause and restart automatic updates, click "Live" or "Paused". If paused, you'll be notified of the number of additional comments that have come in.

Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.